WAIPAWA SEAT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 56, 29 November 1919, Page 10

WAIPAWA SEAT

EI3FORM CANDIDATE'S ADDRESS. Tho Reform candidate for the Waipnwa seat, Mr. G. Hunter, M.P., addressed a well-nttendcfl meeting of electors in tho Havelock North.Village Hall. In dealing with tho Government record Mr. Hunter pointed out tlliit when tho increased cost of living in New Zealand was compared with other places, we showed very favourably. In Great Britain tho increase was 110 per cent, in Canada 7.1 per cent., in the United States 03.7 per cent., and in New Zealand 318 per cent. The legislation brouuht flown and passed by tho Reform Government during tho short session of tho lone Parliament tho party claimed to bo of-a progressive, liberal, and humanitarian character. The nolicv of llr. Massey was a sound, progressive, and liberal one. It provided for careful and economical departnißiital administration, immediate and thorough reform of taxation both direct and indirect, sympathetic and generous treatment of soldiers. State assistance in sendinir nroduco to the overseas markets, encournsement of local industries in the establishment of factories, with tho obiect of woi'king lip our raw materials, and maintaining-' tho freehold policy of tho Reform Party. Other portions of the programme tho speaker called attention to were tho old-age ponsion scheme, war bonus' to bo made permanent—the amount paid in pensions Inst yenr, exclusive of war perisions, lyas JCSB7.GO2 — extension of tho system of telephones to .t.he'bno.k-bloclcs, a roading scheme which would provide for the upkeep of the main arterial roaos by those who used them, further legislation, if necessary, to prevent the operations of trusts and combines. t.lio establishment of maternity homes and extension'of the..system of nut-sine in the back-blocks, no return to ■ political control of tho Public Service, extension of the principle, of exempting from income tax the heads of families in proportion lo the number of children in the fnmilv, up to-dato shipping and mail services between ■ New' Zealand and Great Britain, encouragement of trade with the islands, and amendifient of tho svfjtom of .military iraiiiintj so as not to interfere with the industries of tho Dominion. Arrangements were to bo made with Great Uritnin gno' other countries for tho naval protection of tho Pacific, with a fair sharo of the cost to bo paid bv Now Zenland.

Evervone who liail tlio wolfaro of'tho country at heart was anxious to boo snno Labour represented in Parliament, Mr. Hunter said. Men like Mr. Veitch, Mr. Smith and Mr. Walker were an aecniisition to Parliament, but it would 1» a bad day for tlio people of tliis Dominion if Ihe extreme Labour Party held the balance of nower as tho result of the coining general election. That would hi* a greater danger (o tlie Slate than if they were actually in iinwer, bpcauso thev would influence lonization without accenting tho responsibility. Before the people at this election there were three narties—tho Liberals leo' by Sir Joseph Ward, Labour led by Mr. Holland, and tieform led by Mr. Mnssey. On December 17 the people would have to exercise a judicial decision in regard to the Government, of the country in the immediate future, and Mr. Hunter asked his hearers to come to that decision with n full sense of their responsibilities alio' a desiro to see the country governed b,v a strong, sound, and liberal party, who would mak6 New Zealand the homo of a hanpv and contented people, and whoso one desire was tlio greatest good to the greatest number.

Ml. .T. T. M. JTomsby, M.P., addressed a. well-attnulM meeting at Ea«t Taratahi on Thufedny. At the conclusion of tlio speech—which covered fresh ground regarding soldier settlement and education —the candidato was accorded a voto of thanks. Mr, ff. 7?. Sykos, jr.P., candidate for the Mnstevton' electorate, addressed a ffond meeting at Pnnga.iui on Friday. At (lie conclusion of tho addross a voto of thanks was passed to the speaker.